The Stage

Watford Palace waits on council loan decision

Published Friday 30 April 2004 at 09:20 by Jeremy Austin

Watford Palace Theatre faces an anxious wait for the local borough council to decide whether it will grant the venue a £500,000 interest free loan to cover escalating refurbishment costs.

At a meeting on Monday, councillors said they wanted more information about how the overspend and delayed opening had occurred but did not write off the theatre’s plea. Initially, it had hoped that a joint application by the council and the Palace for money from the East of England Development Agency to regenerate the area of the town would alleviate any problems. However, the money was not forthcoming and the council loan is the next option.

Artistic director Lawrence Till said the council loan was one of a number of funding options being considered. He added that the reason for the overspend has been a combination of factors rather than one or two things, such as the Victorian drains that were uncovered and had to be worked around midway through the £7.2 million refurbishment.

“We are trying to control this as best we can and there are other options which I am working on and which I hope to have good things to say about in the middle of next week,” he said.

The Palace refurbishment was due to end last November, with the venue reopening for its pantomime. However, latest estimates have the opening date in September this year, ten months late. Previously artistic director of Bolton Octagon, Till found himself in a similar position after an overspend on a refurbishment there.

However, he said that experience has taught him ways of dealing with the current situation. For instance, although interviews for new staff are currently being undertaken, they will not be employed until a definite opening date is secured. He also added that during the seven years it took to plan for the refurbishment, a new board was brought together with expertise in the various areas needed when a theatre is being refurbished. He said this, coupled with a good relationship with the funding bodies, has made it easier to cope with the current situation.

Board member and theatre consultant Andrew Leigh said: “I would not like to point the finger of blame. There is nothing new about delays to building projects. It is Grade II listed and once you start taking it apart you find surprises.”